Effects of fire intensity on soil chemistry in a eucalypt forest

Abstract

Soil samples taken in the Wombat State Forest in Victoria, at depths of 0-2, 2-5, and 5-10 cm before and after burning fuel loads of 0 (unburnt control), 15, 50, 150, and 300 t ha-1 were analysed for pH, exchangeable cations and cation exchange capacity, available and total P, organic carbon and soil moisture, over a 2-year, 2000 mm rainfall period. Short term responses (up to 6 months) occurred in levels of exchangeable NH4+, K+, and Mg2+, and long term changes (2 years or longer) over the period of the study were observed for pH, available and total P and exchangeable ca2+ at the 0-2 cm soil depth for the burnt treatments. Following burning (and 108 mm of rain), changes in soil chemical pa..